The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) Thursday approved continuing the Ground Water Management and Regulation Scheme with new components of aquifer mapping and participatory ground water management, an official statement said.
The scheme involves an expenditure of Rs.3,319 crore during the 12th Plan period (2012-16).
The scheme will be implemented in parts of 28 states and seven union territories covering 889,000 sq km during the 12th Plan. The remaining mapable area of 1,436,000 sq km will be taken up in the 13th Plan, the Water Resources Ministry statement said.
Aquifer management plans will be formulated under the scheme to quantify water availability and water quality in various aquifers for facilitating sustainable management of ground water resources through the participatory management approach.
